When Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers signed Scott Sinclair from Aston Villa during the summer transfer window, the winger was a known quantity to the bench boss. . .but few others.
Sinclair, who played for Rodgers at Swansea City, left Wales for the green pastures of Manchester City, on an £8 million transfer fee, in 2012. Once there, his career flatlined. He made only 13 appearances for City before being sent out on loan, first to West Brom and then to Aston Villa. He signed for Villa on a permanent basis in 2015 but made only 21 appearances for the Birmingham club during the 2015-16 season. That season was, of course, disastrous for the Villans, leading to their relegation to the Championship.
Looking to reinvigorate his career, and reunite with Rodgers, Glasgow seemed like a perfect fit. And so far, it has been. The Hoops have played five league games this season, starting with a 2-1 win at Hearts that kicked off mere hours after Sinclair signed, and the wide player has been a perfect five for five--five goals in his first five appearances for the club.
Here’s a look at his goals so far:
August 7th vs. Hearts
Just a few hours after completing his signing with Celtic, Sinclair came on as a second-half substitute and scored the winner at Tynecastle.
August 20th vs. St. Johnstone
Sinclair scored the vital second against St. Johnstone at McDermaid Park.
August 27th vs. Aberdeen
Sinclair’s goal against Aberdeen, the likely challengers to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, sealed the points at Celtic Park.
September 10th vs. Rangers
The first Old Firm match of the season will be remembered for Moussa Dembele’s hat trick, but Sinclair scored as well to put the match out of reach for Celtic against their bitter rivals.
September 18th vs. Inverness Caledonian Thistle
Sinclair makes it a perfect five for five against ICT.
That prolific production has tied Sinclair with a club legend at Celtic, Jimmy McGrory. The two are now the only men to have scored in each of their first five appearances with the club.
Otherwise, Sinclair and the Celtic striker from the 1920s and 30s have little in common. Sinclair, from Bath in England, stands at 5’10”. McGrory, a native Glaswegian, was just 5’6” tall, and he played his entire career in Scotland, scoring 395 goals in 378 appearances for Celtic and 408 goals in 408 league games in his native country (he was loaned out to Clydebank early in his career).
Overall, he scored 550 goals in 547 appearances for the Hoops, making him the most prolific scorer in the history of British football. McGrory would also go on to manage Celtic in 1934-35.
Sinclair is just starting his Celtic journey. But if early returns are any indication, McGrory’s goal records may be in jeopardy.
